The Tampa Bay Rays are heading to the postseason as the No. 1 overall seed in the American League. Before the Rays take the field for Game 1 at Tropicana Field on Saturday, Oct. 3, the City of Tampa gathered at Old City Hall to raise the Rays flag.
Mayor Jane Castor, city leaders, staff and former Rays player Brett Phillips gathered outside the Tampa Municipal Office Building to raise the Rays banner.
“I could never ever endorse stealing, except in this particular situation. The Rays are more than welcome to steal as many bases as they need to get to that World Series,” Castor said. “We’re very, very proud of our team and everything that they have done.”
The city raises the Rays banner every year the team makes the playoffs, but this year’s celebration carries added significance. The Rays finished the regular season with 98 wins, marking it the third-best regular season in franchise history.
The team also won the American League East after beating the New York Yankees earlier this month.
“As I reflect and look back at the beginning of the season, no one thought that we would be here. The professionals thought that we’d be in last place in the division. No one counted us in, but the city of Tampa and St. Pete,” Phillips said. “We appreciate the fan base, and I know we still have to decide who we’re gonna play come Saturday.”
